MFA Program | Academic Requirements | MFA/MA Academic Requirements | Courses | Advising and Review Process |
Thesis and Exhibition
M.F.A./M.A. Degree Program
and Academic Requirements
Graduate students have an opportunity to earn both an M.A. degree in art history (through the School of Humanities) and an M.F.A. degree in visual arts at Purchase College. In most cases, obtaining the two degrees requires three years of in-residence study with a total course load of 96 credits. For successful progress through the program, a 3.0 (B) GPA must be maintained.
Apart from preparation for museum and gallery work and writing art criticism, students enrolled in the M.A./M.F.A. Program gain a significant competitive advantage when pursuing a teaching career in studio art. Candidates for both the M.A. and M.F.A. degrees should review the options for thesis exhibition. Studio space is provided during the first two years of the program.
First Year | Second Year | Third Year
Academic Requirements
| First Year: 32 credits | |
| Fall: | 16 credits |
| VIS 5585/Graduate Studio Seminar I | 4 credits |
| VIS 5900/Independent Graduate Studio | 4 credits |
| ARH 5325/M.A. Colloquium I | 4 credits |
| ARH 5101/Pro-seminar: Method and Theory in Art History* | 4 credits |
| *ARH 5101 offered alternate years; one semester required | |
| Spring: | 16 credits |
| VIS 5595/Graduate Studio Seminar II | 4 credits |
| VIS 5900/Independent Graduate Studio | 4 credits |
| ARH 5326/M.A. Colloquium II | 4 credits |
| ARH 5—/Art history elective | 4 credits |
| Second Year: 32 credits | |
| Fall: | 16 credits |
| VIS 5605/Graduate Studio Seminar III | 4 credits |
| VIS 5900/Independent Graduate Studio | 4 credits |
| Studio art elective | 4 credits |
| ARH 5—/Art history elective | 4 credits |
| Spring: | 16 credits |
| VIS 5615/Graduate Studio Seminar IV | 4 credits |
| VIS 5900/Independent Graduate Studio (M.F.A. Thesis) | 8 credits |
| Studio art elective | 4 credits |
| Third Year: 32 credits | |
| Fall: | 16 credits |
| ARH 5—/Art history electives (three) | 12 credits |
| ARH 5990/Master’s Thesis | 4 credits |
| Spring: | 16 credits |
| ARH 5—/Art history electives (two) | 8 credits |
| Elective (open) | 4 credits |
| ARH 5990/Master’s Thesis | 4 credits |
Updated July 29, 2008